Esteemed all-rounder foodie Justine Drake joins Zola Nene as a judge on MasterChef South Africa Season 5

Two of the judges who grilled and guided the passionate home cooks in the previous season of MasterChef South Africa will return for the fresh fifth local rendition of the world’s most successful television culinary competition. However, this time, they will bring their expertise to a much larger audience, as MasterChef South Africa Season 5 will be served up on free-to-air television in its new home on SABC 3.

After lifting the lid on culinary queen Zola Nene reprising her MasterChef judging role, the SABC 3 and the show producers have confirmed now that foodie dynamo Justine Drake will also be on judges’ duty.

Justine’s resumé reads like a winning recipe packed with various top-grade ingredients.

With more than 30 years of experience in the food and media industry, she has been the food editor or columnist of a buffet of print and online publications – from Fair Lady to Men’s Health. At the same time, Justine penned down several cookbooks, starting with The Busy Cook’s Cookbook at the age of 23.

This busy cook has also whipped up a popular YouTube channel, often talks about cuisine trends on the radio airwaves, and has hosted numerous television shows – amongst others, the BBC series Just in Africa, which showcased Mzansi’s rich culinary heritage, and her own creation, Just Cooking, in which she inspired audiences to jazz up everyday go-to meals.

Andrew Mills, Chief Marketing Officer at Pick n Pay, who is sponsoring MasterChef South Africa again this year, says:

“The role of MasterChef judge fits Justine, an esteemed foodie, like a stylish kitchen glove. For many years, she has helped our customers serve up delicious dishes through the Fresh Living publication and, as a judge last year, demonstrated an authentic connection with people from diverse backgrounds and different food cultures. She is also a hard taskmaster who always strives for excellence.”

Justine, for whom “mediocrity” is indeed a gastronomical sin, can’t wait to meet the new crop of passionate and dynamic MasterChef South Africa contestants, who will showcase their originality and flair with different food flavours by using items from the Pick n Pay pantry.

Justine says:

“The aim of the show is to allow home cooks to achieve their MasterChef status. However, it doesn’t arrive on a silver platter. The participants are put to the test in gruelling challenges, and to reach the top of the culinary ladder, they have to be disciplined and willing to learn.”

That’s why she encourages all home cooks who don’t just love cooking but who can’t imagine a life without cooking to enter this upcoming season of MasterChef South Africa.

“If you have a culinary vision and are ready to work hard to achieve your culinary dream, the world is your oyster with this show.”

In MasterChef South Africa, twenty home cooks from diverse backgrounds are put through the paces with various challenges, during which they create delicious dishes to impress the judges and avoid landing on the chopping board. Ultimately, the winner scoops up the coveted title of “MasterChef” and a tasty cash prize of R1 million.

Find the MasterChef South Africa entry form on the website, where you’ll find all the instructions. Also, make sure you use this exact website address. Since MasterChef is a global phenomenon produced in many countries, there are dozens of show and fan pages on the internet.

The closing date for entries is 15 March 2024 at 23:59.

MasterChef South Africa Season 5 will be on the S3 schedule from June 2024. The one judge joining Zola and Justine on the show and the show’s launch date on SABC3 will be announced in due course.

The multiple-award-winning Cape Town-based production company Homebrew Films will produce MasterChef South Africa for Primedia Studios.

To keep up to speed with the latest news about Primedia Studio programming, download the Primedia+ App from your favourite App Store.

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